Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-13


AIrTEE FOR EXISTING ABUSES.
The work being done by the Senate finance sub
committee in relation to the undervaluation of
imports to the United States is OF great Importance
ana the question Is most difficult one to deal
WIN. The subcommittee is composed Of men of
Inc longest experience on the finance committee,
who. by q number OF years OF careful study, are
familiar with the subject. They began their
Investigations nearly two years ago. visiting BOs-
'on' New YORK, and Philadelphia, and collecting
all the information attainab!e. Now they are
ABOUT ready to submit plan for the prevention of
uhoerValuatlon which they think will be effective.
THE TASK OF THE SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE.
I'VE mad before us" MI. Beck said to STAR re-
porter, Ian immense mass OF evidence-the
statements OF experts, supported by figures, the
data collected by ourselves and by the Depart
mems, and all the propositions that have been
hGa maae TO correct the abuses Every bill that has
subject has been carefully considered, and we are
now endeavoring to formulate a bill which will
neson t1e 9reafr earre th system It is an
State commerce. and more difficult to deal with.
no np one can nave an idea what it is until they get
consular service. and all the business interests of
the country"
THERE IS SCRAMBLE AMONG IMPORTERS"
ne said, to get the valuations as low as possible
II one can get his goods in cheaper than his
neighbors he can undersell them. Thus there is a
constant cutthrOat game going on that affects
prices all over the country. Exporters send their
goods here marked far below their real value and
sell them In bond, the transaction being conducted
on the other side. There is uniformity of valu-
alton. Some merchants pay one price, some an
other, for the same articles, and those who pay
less duty can undersell the others. And goods are
rated Inherently at different ports. Then the sys-
TEN OF merchant appraisers is bad. You may sit
to-day In appraisement OF goods for man who
will tomorrow be called upon to fix value on
goods OF YOURS There is likely N In q
between you to be liberal with each other It is
asserted that merchants accommodate each other
IN their appra1SementS."
TO SECURE UNIFORM VALUATION
"We have studied the matter very carefully, he
continued, "and think the most important thing is
to secure uniformity of valuation To have the
valuation uniform is more important even than to
have 1t just. We cannot have the importer paw
Ing immense duties on hat Innings for instance, at
one port While the importer at another port pays
merely nominal duty. All the proper relations
OF trade are disturbed. We are through with our
investigation now and In q few days will have a
measure prepared, which we will submit to the
Secretary of the Treasury for his opinion We were
gratlned yesterday, when MI. .Magone was before us
attneCaptOi to find that his forty years experience
with the subject had led him to about the same
oncluSionS we had arrived at"
WHAT THE SUBCOMMITTEE PROPOSE
"What will probably be the feature Of the COM
mittee's measure?" asked the reporter.
''The measure is not fully formulated" Mr.. Beck
duo"CiOo, uuG ouF lucd Is 10 10 away With mer-
chant appraisers and to provide for the appoint
ment OF nine appraisers by the Government, three
OF whom viii be located permanently in New York
city. The other six will have charge of the other
ports, and VIII make a uniform appraisement. The
three appraisers at New York will act as sort of
board OF appeals to which questions in dispute
Will be carried. The plan may include the con.
struction OF a Government sample-nouse also.
where the classification OF goods may be deter
mined and uniformity OF valuation secured. We
want also TO Improve the consular service so as to
make help to the customs service instead of a
hlndrance, as it now is"
BILL TO BE READY AS SOON AS CONGRESS AS
SEMBLES.
1--WE will submit our general plan to the Seere-
tary OF the Treasury and to the collectors of the
ports OF Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, and
Others continued the Senator, "and will have the
bill ready TO present TO the Senate as soon as Con-
gress meets. 1t will be ready attach to apy bill
the House may pass affecting the rates OF duties,
or may be passed by the Senate as an independent
proposition. The Senate wants to do all it can In
the matter. We cannot do anything with the
rates Of customs duties though there are glaring
defects. until the House takes the first step but
we can help the matter along by the preparation
OF this bill"